Article for PLMR: Reshuffle Time

With speculation of a cabinet reshuffle reaching almost fever pitch – doubtless because there is an actual vacancy caused by Damian Green’s forced departure as First Secretary of State and the consequence of the festive season creating idle minds – it is worth exploring the likely thinking behind the choices about to be made by the Prime Minister, Theresa May.

Three factors invariably prevail at these times. These are ministerial performance – famously demonstrated by Clement Attlee’s ‘you’re not up to it’ remark when asked by an outgoing minister for a reason for dismissal; the balance of party factions but now temporally subordinated to views on Brexit; and, finally, ‘demographics’ where the contemporary issue is gender. A catch-all phrase to include these drivers normally contains words such as ‘refresh’ or ‘renew’.